AFP officers to join Dili patrols

Australian Federal Police (AFP) have begun patrols in East Timor's capital Dili, alongside Australian soldiers.

Transcript

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ROS CHILDS: More disturbing news from East Timor this evening with the emergence of fresh claims against the country's Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri. In the latest allegations, the commander of a rebel faction of soldiers says that men loyal to Mr Alkatiri have committed a series of murders, dumping 60 bodies in a mass grave. The Prime Minister has denied any link to the killings, but the country's Foreign Minister has called for an independent inquiry. The ABC's Mark Bowling reports from East Timor.

MARK BOWLING: High in the mountains, East Timor's rebel soldiers are playing a waiting game. It's a difficult drive to reach them. Lieutenant Gastao Salsinha is preparing to state his claim - that troops still loyal to Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri shot about 60 civilians and buried them in a secret mass grave. He says, on 28 April this year, regular soldiers shot the people and in the night buried them near Dili. He says he has witnesses to prove his claim. These are just a handful of Lieutenant Salsinha's men - a force of about 600 known as the 'Petitioners'. They deserted their barracks in March claiming discrimination in promotions because they come from the country's west. They want Dr Alkatiri sacked and suspect they may soon be targeted. Lieutenant Salsinha claims that the former interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, distributed 200 automatic rifles to loyalists of Dr Alkatiri's Fretilin party. They were weapons, he says, stolen from a police armoury in Dili. Last night, the ABC reported claims of a secret government security team recruited and armed by the former interior minister on the instructions of Dr Alkatiri. The leader of the armed civilian group said he had met Dr Alkatiri on 8 May and alleges the Prime Minister's principle aim was to destroy the Petitioners. The allegations are the latest in a long list against Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and those around him. Secret documents, top-level claims and witness accounts are all fuelling demands for a full and transparent investigation.

JOSE RAMOS-HORTA, EAST TIMORESE FOREIGN MINISTER: I find it very hard to believe that our own Prime Minister would order - would arm civilians, individuals, and, in particular, giving orders to assassinate others, no matter who they are. There has to be, obviously, an impartial, independent investigation.

MARK BOWLING: Australian soldiers have been sent to Gleno, close to rebel Lieutenant Salsinha's rebel soldiers with a very specific security role to carry out.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MICHAEL MUMFORD, AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER: Because they provide a link with those leaders of the petitioning groups for us to be able to be involved in negotiations, communications, with them.

MARK BOWLING: Lieutenant Salsinha says he's loyal to President Xanana Gusmao and is obeying his orders to stay in the mountains to avoid further violence clashes. Mark Bowling, Lateline.